Store-service apparatus.



J. P. GATELY.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. Arrmcniou FILED JAN. 2. 1909. v

Patented Mar. 14,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. GATELY. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 2. 1909 Patented Mar. 14,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1'1: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINDTDN, a, c

J. P. GATELY. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 2. 1909Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

5 BHEETSSHEET'3.

I an n J. P. GATELY.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 31111.2. 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

n1: NORRIS PETERS cm, WA5HINGTON,'D- c.

J. P. GATELY.

v STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION 1 11.31) 3111.2. 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

/0? 5 SHEETS-mum 5.

1515 NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n, c.

UNEED STATES PATENT OFFTC.

JOHN P. GATELY, on cnroaso, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN A. KELLY, onCHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed January 2, 1909. Serial No. 470,497.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. GATELY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in store service apparatus andmore particularly to that type of apparatus wherein there is employed acarrier which is adapted to travel upon a suspension track or wire forconveying articles from one part of the store to another part, and theprimary object of the invention is to provide improved means for raisingand lowering the carrier to and from the supporting track or Wirewithout shifting the track or wire or any portion thereof.

A further object is to provide improved means for automaticallyreleasing the receptacle for the article from the carrier, and forautomatically lowering the receptacle when so released.

A further object is to provide improved. means for looking or securingthe receptacle to the carrier.

A further object is to provide improved means for arresting the movementof the carrier at one end of the track or wire, and improved means forstarting the carrier toward the other end of the track or station.

A further object is to provide improved means for automatically raisingthe receptacle for the article to a position to be con nccted to thecarrier.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this characterwhich will be simple, durable and cheap in construction, and eifective,efficient and automatic in action.

To the attainmentof these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts hereinafter more fully clescribed and claimed and shown inthe accompanying drawings, illustrating the emrier and articlereceptacle adjacent the terminal. Flg. 2 1s an enlarged detall vlewpartly in section showing one end of the support for moving the articlereceptacle toward and away from the carrier. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail perspective view of the projection on the receptacle by means ofwhich the receptacle is locked to the support. Fig. 1 is an enlargeddetail sectional view on line4l4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a detail elevationpartly in section of the upper extremity of the support for moving thearticle receptacle toward and away from the carrier. Fig. 6 is a detailelevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the article receptacle locked to thesupport and in a lowered position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailsectional view showing the locking mechanism for securing the receptacleto the carrier. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line 88 of Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the catch for locking thereceptacle to the carrier. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional viewon line 1010 in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is an elevation of another terminal ofthe apparatus. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on line 1212 of Fig.11. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on line 1313 of Fig. 11. Fig. 14is a detail sectional view on line 1t1t of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is amodified form of one terminal of the apparatus.

, Fig. 16 is a modified form of the terminal shown in Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates aguide or hanger which may be constructed of any suitable material and ofany desired config' uration, but is preferably angular in cross sectionand is suspended from any suitable overhead support, such as theceiling. The hanger may be of any desired length convenient for use andpreferably terminates at a point adjacent the counter. Secured to thehanger at any convenient point is a bracket 21 to which one extremity ofthe supporting wire or track 22 is secured.

A support 23 is slidably mounted on the guide or hanger 20 in anydesired or suitable manner, preferably by means of clips 24, 25, onelocated adjacent the top and the other adjacent the bottom of thesupport 23. The clip 24 projects beyond the face of the hanger 2Oopposite to that against which the support 23 moves, to form a space 25between the clip and'the hanger,

and the clip 25 at the opposite end of the support is'provided with arounded face 26 adapted to stand in close proximity to the hanger 20 anda suitable anti-friction roller 27 is rotatably mounted in the extremityof the support 23 to'engage the face of the hanger 20 opposite to theface 26 of the clip, so that the upper extremitybf the support 23 may bemoved toward or away from the face of the hanger 20, the rounded face 26permitting such movement, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The hangerr20 is provided with a shoulder 28 adjacent the bracket 21 andthe support 23 is provided with a projection 29 adapted to engage theshoulder 28 when the support is raised and to hold the support in itselevated position until the lat ter is rocked in the manner already setforth to move the projection 29 out of engagement with the shoulder 28.Any suitable .means may be provided for normally holding the upperextremity of the support 23 in engagement with the face of the hanger tocause the projection 29 to engage the shoulder 28 and for that purposethere may be provided an elastic member 30, such as a coil spring or thelike, which is seated within the clip 25, and a member 31 is alsoprovided which is so positioned that one face thereof will be engaged bythe elastic member 30 to force the oppositeface into engagement with thehanger 20 and thereby lock the support in its elevated position. Thetension of the elastic member 30 is such that when a strain is exertedupon the up- 40 per extremity of the support 23 to move I the latteraway from the hanger 20, it will yield to permit the projection 29 todisengage the shoulder 28, but when the strain is relieved, it will drawthe projection 29 into a position to engage the shoulder.

The support 23 is provided with an arm 32 which is secured thereto byone extremity and projects laterally from the support in a directionsubstantially parallel with the bracket 21 and is adapted to projectinto a tube 33 supported by the frame 34 of the receptacle 35 into whichlatter the articles are placed.

Pivot-ally mounted upon the support 23 :is a catch 36 which is providedwith a hookshaped extremity 37 adapted to engage over ii j --aprojection 38 on the frame 34 of there- A carrier, designated generallyby the reference numeral 41, is provided with rollers 42 which rest andmove upon the track or wire 22. This carrier 41 is preferably in theform'of a truck and comprises spaced side members, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 8. The carrier is supported by the rollers 42 so as to projector stand below the track or wire -22- and is provided with an enlargedportion 43 preferably located adjacent the center thereof or midwaybetween the rollers 42.

V Pivotally mounted upon the carrier 41, between the enlarged portion43, is a catch 44 which is provided with spaced lateral projections 45,46, and a locking member 47 is also pivotally supported within theenlarged portion of the carrier and above the end 48 of the catch 44.The locking member is cut-away as at 49 on the lower edge thereof toform two shoulders 50, 51, and is so pivoted that the end 48 of thecatch 44 will project into the cutaway portion 49 so that the shoulders50 and 51 will engage the end 48 of the catch to lock the same in anoperative or inoperative position.

One extremity of the member 47 is provided with a slot 52 into which aprojection 53 extends to form a guide for the member when it movesabout'its pivot. The other extremity 54 of the member 47 on the otherside of the pivot is provided with a projection 55 and an elastic member56 such as a spring or the like, is secured by one extremity to thecarrier 41 and the other extremity has engagement with the member 47 andtends normally to raise the adjacent end so that the shoulder 51 willengage the end 48 of the catch 44 when the latter is in an uprightposition, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, to lock the latter againstmovement. Suitable guides 57 are provided within the enlarged portion 43of the carrier, and are adapted to guide a projection 58 on the tubularmember 33 into a position so that the projection 45 on the catch 44 willenter an aperture 59 in the projection to lock the receptacle to thecarrier. The bracket 29 is providedwitha depending projection 60 whichis adapted to engage and rock the member 47. i

The support 23 is adapted to be moved upon the guide or hanger 20 towardand away from the bracket 21 by means of a flexible member 61,preferably in the form of a chain, one extremity of which is secured asat 62 to the clip 24 from which point the chain passes over a suitablesprocket 63 having an axle 63 which is journaled in suitable bearingsadjacent the top of the guide or hanger. A ratchet wheel 64 is securedfor rotation with the shaft 63 and a locking dog or pawl 65 is pivotallysupported by a gear 81 loosely mounted on the shaft 63 and is adapted toengage the ratchet wheel 64 to lock the gear 81 for rotation with theshaft 63, when the sprocket wheel 63 is moved in the direction to lowerthe basket but when the sprocket wheel is moved in the oppositedirection during the raising of the basket, the dog will slip over theteeth of the ratchet wheel. The specific construction, however, of themechanism just described forms no part of the present invention but maybe of any ordinary and well known type; suffice it to say that themechanism is such that when the basket is lowered, the governor will belocked for op eration by the pulley so as to retard the descent of thebasket, but when the basket is raised, the pulley may rotate freely inthe opposite direction so as not to aifect the governor. The chain 61also passes over a pulley 66 journaled in suitable bearings 67 adjacentthe lower extremity of the guide or hanger 20 and passes through anopening 68 (see Fig. 2) in the clip 25. The free extremity of the chainis preferably connected to an elastic member 69 which latter is securedto the clip 24 so that the chain 61 together with the elastic member 69,will form an endless flexible member, which is adapted to be moved overthe pulleys when one or the other runs thereof is moved by the hands ofthe operator to raise or lower the support 23 together with the arm 32thereon.

A suitable handle may be provided for moving the chain 61 and preferablycomprises a plurality of telescoping sections 70, 71, 72, through whichthe chain passes. One of the sections, preferably the section 72, issecured to a fixed support, preferably the support 67 of the pulley 66and another section, preferably the section 7 O, is secured as at 73 tothe chain 61 and the sections 70. Two of the sections, preferably thesections 70 and 71, are provided with grip handles 74, 75, by means ofwhich the operator may adjust the sections with respect to each other.When the receptacle 35 is in an elevated position to be connected to thecarrier, as shown in Fig. 1, the handle sections will be collapsed withrespect to each other, as shown in Fig. 1. When the receptacle isreleased from the carrier and descends, the handle sections will beextended with respect to each other, as shown in Fig. 6.

When the receptacle is connected to the carrier 41 the catch 44 and thelocking member 47 will assume their normal position during the travel ofthe carrier upon the wire or track 22, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.7, that is, with the projection entering the aperture 59 in theextension 58 of the tube 33 and this projection 45 is so located withrespect to the arm 32 on the support 23, that the tube 33 will be raisedto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 out of engagement withthe arm 32. A projection 60 on the bracket 21 is arranged within thepath of movement of the projection on the member 47 so that when thecarrier 41, with the receptacle 35 connected thereto, is running uponthe track or wire 22, the projection 55 on the locking member 47 willengage the depending projection on the bracket 21. This projection 60 islocated a sutlicient distance from the support 23 to permit the carrierto travel a short distance after the projection 55 has engaged the same.This movement will cause the locking member 47 to be rocked about itspivot from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in fulllines in Fig. 7 to release the catch 44 by moving the shoulder 51 out ofengagement therewith. lVhen the catch is thus released, the weight ofthe receptacle 35, together with the tube 33, will rock the catch 44about its pivot to move the extremity 48 thereof into engagement withthe shoulder 50 on the member 47, which shoulder will move into the pathof movement of the extremity 48 of the catch when the catch is releasedfrom its locked position. Thus released, the receptacle and tube willdrop until the tube rests upon the arm 32 of the support 23. The Weightthus applied to the arm 32 will rock the support 23 in the manneralready set forth to move the pro-- jection 29 out of engagement withthe shoulder 28 on the guide or hanger 20, thereby releasing the supportand when thus released, the receptacle 35 together with the support 23will gravitate toward the bottom of the hanger or guide 22, therebyautomatically lowering the receptacle into a position convenient for theuser. After the carrier has moved a sufiicient distance to trip thelocking member 47, the projection 38 on the frame 34 of the receptacle35 will pass under the hook 37 of the catch 36 to lock the receptacleagainst accidental displacement from the arm 32, and when the projection38 passes under the hook of the catch, the receptacle will engage abumper 76 on an elastic member 77 to compress the latter to exert atension thereon, which tension serves as a means for assisting instarting the receptacle to the other terminal of the apparatus when itis again connected to the carrier 41 and the latter released in a mannerto be set forth. A bumper or cushion 78 may be also provided on thebracket 21 and arranged in the path of the movement of the carrier 41 toovercome the jar which would be caused by suddenly arresting themovement of the carrier. Any suitable means may be provided forarresting or retarding the descent of the receptacle and i 35 forwardslightly on the arm 32 so as to posite terminal.

5 by means of the gear 80 to the gear 81 which latter is mounted to movefreely in one direction on the shaft 63, and is locked to the shaftduring its movement in the opposite direction by means of the dog 65.

.When the receptacle 35 has been released from the carrier and is in alowered position, as shown in Fig. 6, and the article placed therein,the receptacle may be raised to the carrier 41 by grasping either of thehandles 74, 75, on the sections 70, 71, and drawing downwardly upon thesame, which I movement will tend to raise the support 23 to a positionto permit the extension '58 on the tube 33 to pass between the guides 57on the carrier so that the extremity of the extension will engage theprojection 46 on the catch 44 to rock the latter and cause theprojection 45 to enter the aperture 59. Before the extremity of theextension 58 engages the projection 46 on the catch 44, the extremity 39of the catch 36 on the support 23 will engage the projection 40 on theguide or hanger 20 to release the receptacle and when thus released thetension on the elastic member 77 will move the receptacle move thecarrier 41 a sufficient distance to permit the elastic member 56 to rockthe locking member 47 to cause the shoulder 51 to engage the extremity48 of the catch when the latter is moved into the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 7, by the engagement of the extension 58 with theprojection 46 thereon, so that when the receptacle is thus released andlocked to the car rier, the latter will move upon the track or wire 22toward the other terminal of the apparatus. The track or wire 22 isarranged in a plane normallv inclining from the hanger 20 toward thehanger 82 arranged at the oppositev end of the apparatus, as shown inFig. 11. When the arm 32 is relieved of the weight of the receptacle 35,the elastic member 30 within the clip 25 will iove the projection 29into a position to engage the shoulder 28 and lock the support in anelevated position to receive the carrier when the latter is returnedfrom the op- Arranged at the said op- .55 posite terminal or the otherend of the ap- "*wwhich, preferably the guide 84, is tubular in paratusare spaced guides 83, 84, one of construction and the extremities 85,86, of theseguides beyond the hanger 82 are preferably deflected in aninclined plane as shown in Fig. 11, and their extremities are connectedby means of a suitable connection 87. Slidably mounted upon the guides'83, 84, is a slide '88, which is provided with'a projection 89 arrangedwithin the path of movement of one of the hangers of the carrier 41 andthe slide 88 is provided with an arm 90 having a tubular portion 91which surrounds the track or wire 22. A second slide 92 is arrangedbetween and adapted to move upon the inclined extremities 85, 86, of theguides 83, 84 and a pulley 93 is journaled to the slide. A similarpulley 94 is journaled to a fixed support 95 at the forward extremity ofthe guides 83, 84 and in advance of the slide 88. A suitable flexiblemember 96, sucsh as a chain or the like, is secured by one extremity asat 97 to the slide 88 and passes over the pulley 94 through the tubularguide 85 and through the guide 86 which may also be tubular inconstruction, through a suitable opening in the ex tremity of the guide86, over the pulley 93, and is secured by its free extremity as at 98 tothe hanger 82. The slide 92 is adapted to freely move upon the guides85, 86, and the slide 88 is arranged a sufiicient distance from thehanger 82 so that when the carrier advances upon the track or wire 22and the hanger engages the projection 89, the momentum of the carrier asit engages the slide 88 will move the same toward the hanger 82 to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. The momentum of the carrieris arrested by means of the slide 92 which latter may be of any desiredweight and is adapted to be drawn toward the hanger 82 to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 when the slide 88 is moved toward thehanger. If desired, a suitable pulley 99 may be provided for guiding thechain 96 as it passes into the guide 86, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.The'slide 92engages the guides 85, 86, with suflicient friction to checkor arrest the movement of the carrier and will not move the carrier awayfrom the guidesv grasped by the operator when the slide 92 is in theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig; 11. By grasping the handle 100and moving the slide 92 suddenly toward the free extremities of theguides 85, 86, the slide 88 will be moved from the position shown indotted lines toward the entrance end of the guides 83, 84, and thissudden movement will move the carrier 41 onto the track or wire 22 withsuflicient force to send the same up the slight incline of the tracktoward the hanger '20 and when the carrier reaches the hanger 20 thereceptacle Cir will be automatically released from the carrier andlowered in the manner already described.

In the exemplification of the invention shown in Fig. 10, the guides101, 102 may be provided in place of the guides 83, 81, and the slide 88will move upon these guides in the same manner when the carrier engagesthe projection 89 thereon; but in this exemplitication of the invention,the tubular guide 102 is preferably provided with an enlarged or flaredextremity 103 and the flexible member 96 which passes over the pulley 04and through the tubular guide 102 may be provided with a handle 104 andalso an elastic section 105 adjacent the handle. The flexible member 96is of such a length that when the slide 88 is moved on the guides towardthe hang-er 82, the handle will engage the extremity 103 of the tubularmember to arrest the advancing movement of the carrier and the elasticsection 105 will yield to prevent injury to the parts from being jarredby the sudden engagement or stopping of the carrier. When it is desiredto start the carrier toward the other end of the apparatus with thismodified form of the invention, the operator simply grasps the handle104 and draws the same suddenly away from the hanger 82 to move theslide 88 rapidly toward the forward end of the guides which will sendthe carrier up the inclined track or wire to the oppposite end of theapparatus.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 15 there is shownimproved means for automatically raising the support 23 to a position toconnect the receptacle to the carrier and for this purpose there isprovided a motor 106 of any desired construction, which is connected bymeans of a suitable gear 107 to a gear 108 which in turn is connected toa gear preferably on the same shaft with the gear 80. The motor may beprovided with energy from any suitable source, the conductors beingconnected to contacts 109, 110, and a switch 111 may be provided forconnecting the contacts. In this exemplification of the invention thehanger 20 is preferably tubular and arranged within the hanger is a baror rod 112, one end of which is deflected as at 113 and the extremity114 thereof passes through a suitable guide 115 and has a looseconnection at 116 with the switch 111. The other extremity of the bar orrod 112 is deflected as at 117 at a point adjacent the lower end of thehanger and projects through a suitable opening 118 in the hanger and isprovided with a handle 119 arranged at a convenient position for theoperator so that by depressing the handle 119 the switch 111 may beshifted to make or break the circuit through the motor. The bar or rod112 is provided with a projection 120 which eX- tends through a suitableslot or opening 121 in the hanger and this projection 120 is arrangedwithin the path of the upward movement of the clip 24. \Vhen the carrieris moving into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15 to releasethe receptacle 35, the receptacle together with the support 23, will beautomatically lowered in the manner already set forth. Then it isdesired to elevate the receptacle to again connect the same to thecarrier, all that is necessary is to depress the handle 119 which willmove the bar or rod 112 to cause the switch 111 to connect the contacts109, 110 and thereby start the motor. As the motor operates it willraise the receptacle. During the upward movement of the support 23, theclip 24 will engage the projection 120 on the bar or rod 112 and raisethe same to automatically shift the switch 111 to stop the motor.Obviously the projection 120 will be so arranged that the switch will.be shifted at the time when the receptacle is in a proper position to beconnected to the carrier.

In order to prevent damage to the articles when being placed in orremoved from the receptacle 35, a suitable guard or shield 122 in theform of fabric or the like, may be secured to the receptacle 35 toproject over the edge thereof, as shown more clearly in detail in Fig.10 of the drawings.

In order to prevent the carrier 41 from gravitating on the inclinedtrack or way 22 after the article receptacle or holder has been detachedtherefrom, and to hold the carrier in position to receive the holder,the locking member 47 is provided with a shoulder 47 which is adapted tocooperate with the projection 60 on the track 21 so that when theprojection engages the projection to rock the member 47 into theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the shoulder 47 will move into aposition behind. the projection 60. The elastic member 58 will serve todisengage the shoulder 47 at the proper time to permit the carrier totravel upon the track.

In order that the invention might be fully understood, the details ofthe foregojng embodiments thereof have been thus specifically described,but

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. In a store service apparatus, thecombination of a track or way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, anarticle holder detachably connected to and movable with the carrier,means for automatically releasing the holder from the carrier when thecarrier has arrived at the end of its travel on the track, and means forautomatically conveying the holder away from the carrier when releasedtherefrom.

2. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a stationary trackor way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holderdetachably connected to and movable with the carrier, means forautomatically releasing the holder" from the carrier when the carrierhas arrived at the end of its travel on the track, and means forautomatically conveying the holder away from the carrier when releasedtherefrom.

3. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detach-.

bination of a track or way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, anarticle holder detachably' connected to and movable with the carrier,means for automatically releasing the holder from the carrier when thecarrier has arrived at the end of its travel on the track, a shiftablesupport, means for locking the support in position to receive the holderwhen released from the carrier, and means whereby the weight of theholder will automatically release the support.

5. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrler mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for automaticallyreleasing the'holder from the carrier when the carrier has arrived atthe end of its travel on the track, a shiftable support, means forlocking the support in position to receive the holder 'when releasedfrom the carrier, and means whereby the weight of the holder willautomaticallyrelease the support and shift the same to convey the holderaway from the track or way.

'6. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to'travel thereon, an article holder detachab lyconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for automaticallyreleasing the holder from the carrier when the carrier has arrived atthe end of its travel on the T track, a shiftable support, means forlocking the; support in position to receive the holder when releasedfrom the carrier, means whereby the weight of the holder upon thesupport will automatically release and lower the same to convey theholder away from the track or way, and means for'retarding such movementof the support. a V V p 7 .In a storeservice apparatus, the combinationof a track or way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, an articleholder detachably connected to and movable with the carrier, a shiftablesupport for receiving the holder, means f'or locking the support inposition to receive the holder, means for automatically releasing theholder when the carrier reaches the said support, means whereby theweight of the holder will automatically release the support and shiftthe latter to move the holder away from the carrier, and means forshifting the support to move the holder to the carrier.

8. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a shiftable support forreceiving the holder from the carrier, means for securing the support inposition to receive the holder, means for automatically releasing theholder from the carrier when the carrier arrives at the end of itstravel on the track, means for securing the holder to the support, andmeans whereby the weight of the holder will automatically release andshift the support.

9. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted totravel thereon, an article holder detachably connectedto and movable with the carrier, a shiftable support for receiving theholder from the carrier, means for securing the support in position toreceive the holder, means for automatically releasing the holder fromthe carrier when the carrier arrives at the end of its travel on thetrack, means for securing the holder to the support, means whereby theweight of the holder will automatically release and shift the support,and governor mechanism for controlling such movement of the support.

10. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier,'a shiftable support forreceiving the holder from the carrier, means for securing the support inposition to receive the holder, means for automatically releasing thehold-er from the carrier when the holder arrives at the end of itstravel on the track, means for securing the holder to the support, meanswhereby the weight of the holder will automatically release and shiftthe support, means for shifting the support to move the holder to thecarrier, and means for automatically releasing the holder from thesupport.

11. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a support for receiving theholder, means for releasing the holder from the carrier, means wherebythe weight of said holder will automatically release and shift thesupport to move the holder away from the carrier, and telescopingmembers operatively connected to the support for shifting the support tomove the holder toward the carrier.

12. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a support for receiving theholder, means for releasing the holder from the carrier, means wherebythe weight of said holder will automatically release and shift thesupport to move the holder away from the carrier, an endless flexiblemember operatively connected to the support for shifting the supporttoward the carrier, and a handle comprising telescoping sections formoving said endless member.

13. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a stationary trackor way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holderdetachably connected to and movable with the carrier, a support forreceiving the holder from the carrier, means for automatically releasingthe holder from the carrier when the carrier arrives at the end of itstravel on the track, the weight of the holder serving to shift thesupport to convey the holder away from the carrier, and an endlessflexible member operatively connected to the support for moving thesupport in the opposite direction, said flexible member being providedwith an elastic section.

14. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a hanger, a support mountedfor bodily movement thereon for receiving the holder from the carrierand for moving the same toward and away from the carrier, means forsecuring the support in position to receive the holder, means forautomatically releasing the holder when the latter arrives at thesupport, means whereby the weight of the holder will first automaticallyrelease the support and then move the same bodily upon the hanger awayfrom the carrier, and means for moving the support and holder toward thecarrier.

15. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a hanger, a support mountedfor bodily movement thereon for receiving the holder from the carrierand for moving the same toward and away from the carrier, means forsecuring the support in position to receive the holder, means forautomatically releasing the holder when the latter arrives at thesupport, means whereby the weight of the holder will first automaticallyrelease the support and then move the same bodily 'upon the hanger awayfrom the carrier, and a handle operatively connected to the support formoving the support and holder toward the carrier, said handle comprisingtelescoping sections.

16. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, a hanger, a support mountedfor bodily movement thereon for receiving the holder from the carrierand for moving the same toward and away from the carrier, means forsecuring the support in position to receive the holder, means forautomaticallv releasing the holder when the latter arrives at thesupport, means whereby the weight of the holder will first automaticallyrelease the support and then move the same bodily upon the hanger awayfrom the carrier, means for retarding such movement of the support, andmeans for moving the support in a direction to position the holder withrespect to the carrier.

17. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to move thereon, a holder detachably connected to andmovable with the car rier, a hanger, a support bodily movable upon thehanger and adapted to receive the holder from the carrier, interengagingmeans on the support and hanger for securing the support in position toreceive the holder, means for automatically releasing the holder whenthe latter arrives at the support, and means whereby the weight of theholder upon the support will first shift the same to release the saidinter-engaging means and then bodily shift the support on the hanger tomove the holder away from the carrier.

18. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to move thereon, a holder detachably connected to andmovable with the carrier, a hanger, a support bodily movable upon thehanger and adapted to receive the holder from the carrier,inter-engaging means on the support and hanger for securing the supportin position to receive the holder, means for automatically releasing theholder when the latter arrives at the support, means whereby the weightof the holder upon the support will first shift the same to release thesaid inter engaging means and then bodily shift the support on thehanger to move the holder away from the carrier, and means for movingthe support and holder in the opposite direction and toward the carrier.

19. In a store service apparatus, the co1nbination of a track or way, acarrier mountedvto move thereon, a holder detachably connected to andmovable with the carrier, a hanger, a support bodily movable upon thehanger and adapted to receive the holder from the carrier,inter-engaging means on the support and hanger for securing the supportin position to receive the holder,

means for automatically releasing the holder when thelatter' arrives atthe support, means whereby the, weight of the holder upon the supportwill first shift the same to release the'said inter-engaging means andthen bodily shift the support on the'hanger to move the holder away fromthe carrier, means for moving the support and holder in the oppositedirection and toward the carrier, means for automatically connecting theholder to the carrier, and means for shifting the support when relievedof the weight of the holder to permit the support to besecured inposition to again receive the holder. 7

20. In a store service apparatus, the combination ot a track or way, acarrier mounted to move thereon, a holder detachably connected to andmovable with the carrier, a hanger, a support bodily movable upon thehanger and adapted to receive the holder from the carrier,inter-engaging means on the support and hanger for securing the supportin position to receive the holder, means-for automatically releasing theholder when the latter arrives at the support, means whereby the weightof the holder upon the support will first shift the same to release thesaid inter-engaging means and then bodily shift the support 7 on thehanger to move the holder away from the carrier, means for securing theholder to thesupport, means for moving the support and holder toward thecarrier, means for automatically connecting the holder to the carrier,means for automatically'releasing-the holder to permit the carrier tomove the. same from the'support, and means for shifting the support whenrelieved of the weight of the holder to permit the support to be securedin position to receive the holder.

' 21. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for moving the carrierto a position to receive the holder from the carrier, said carrier beingprovided with a -ftubular port-ion into which the support is adapted toproject, and means for automaticallyreleasing the holder from thecarrier to deliver the holder to the support when the carrier arrives atthe support, the weight of the said holder serving to move the" sup-,port away from the carrier.

bination of a'track or way, a carrier mounted to travel thereon, anarticle holder detachably connected to and movable in the carrier, meansfor moving the carrier to a position to receive the holder from thecarrier, means for securing the support in position to receive theholder, said carrier being provided with a tubular portion into whichthe support is adapted to project, means for automatically releasing theholder to de- 1 liver the same to the support when the holder arrives atthe support, and means whereby the holder will rock the support to nrstrelease the same and then move the support away from the carrier.

23. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for moving the carrierto a position to receive the holder from the carrier, said carrier beingprovided with a tubular portion into which the support is adapted toproject, means for automatically releasing the holder to deliver thesame to the support when the holder arrives at the support, meanswhereby the holder will rock the support to first. release the same andthen move the support away from the carrier, and means for moving thesupport and holder in the opposite direction to position the holder tobe connected to the carrier.

24. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablvconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for automaticallydetaching the holder from the carrier when the carrier arrives at theend of its travel on the track, means for receiving and automaticallymoving the holder away from the carrier when detached, and means formoving the holder back to and connecting the same to the carrier. 7

25. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to and movable with the carrier, means for automaticallydetaching the holder from thecarrier when the carrier arrives at the endof its travel on the track, means for receiving and automatically movingthe holder away from the carrier when detached, and means under thecontrol of the operator for moving the holder back to and connecting thesame to the carrier.

26. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, means supported adjacent one end ofthe track or way for arresting the movement of the carrier and pro- '22.In a store serviceapparatus,the coml jecting into the npathof movementof the carrier to be engaged and moved thereby, and yielding means fornormally holding the last said means in a position to be engaged andmoved by the carrier, said yielding means also serving to move thecarrier in the opposite direction.

27. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, a guide supported adjacent the trackor way, a slide mounted to move on the guide, a flexible memberconnected to the said slide, a counterweight connected to the flexiblemember for holdmg the slide under tension, means whereby the carrierwill move the slide upon the said guide against the tension of thecounterweight to retard and limit the movement of the carrier, and aguide for the counterweight.

28. In a store service apparatus, the com: bination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, a guide supported adjacent the track,a slide mounted to travel on the guide, a flexible member connected tothe slide, a counterweight connected to the flexible member for holdingthe slide under tension, means whereby the carrier will move the slideupon the said guide against the tension of the counterweight to retardand limit the movement of the carrier, a guide for the counterweight,and means whereby the counterweight may be moved in its guide by theoperator for moving the slide rapidly along its guide to cause thecarrier to move along the track or way.

29. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarriage guides mounted upon the support, said jacent one end of thetrack or way, spaced guides mounted upon the support said guides beingsubstantially parallel with the track or way, spaced guides adjacent thefirst said guides and deflected at an angle thereto, a member movableupon the horizontal guides, a member movable upon the deflected guidesand comprising a counterweight, a pulley at the forward end of thehorizontal guides, a flexible member one extremity being secured to themovable member on the horizontal guide, said member passing over thesaid pulley and around the said counterweight, the free extremity of theflexible member being secured to the said support, and means whereby thecarriage will engage the movable member on the horizontal guides to drawupon the flexible member to move the counterweight in its guides toarrest the movement of the carriage.

30. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarriage mounted to travel thereon, a support adjacent one end of thetrack or way, spaced guides, mounted upon the support, said guides beingsubstantially parallel with the track or way, spaced guides adjacent thefirst said guides and deflected at an angle thereto, a member movableupon the horizontal guides, a member movable upon the deflected guidesand comprising a counterweight, a pulley at the forward end of thehorizontal guides, a flexible member, one extremity being secured to themovable member on the horizontal guide, said member passing over thesaid pulley and around the said counterweight, the free extremity of theflexible member being secured to the said support, means whereby thecarriage will engage the movable member 011 the horizontal guides todraw upon the flexible member to move the counterweight in its guides toarrest the movement of the carriage, and a handle operatively connectedto the counterweight for adjusting the same to force the carrier alongthe track or way.

31. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder separate from thecarrier, a catch pivotally mounted upon the carrier, means operativelyrelated to the said holder and adapted to engage the catch for securingthe holder to the carrier, means for locking the catch against movement,and means arranged within the path of movement of the last said meansalong the track or way for shifting the locking means to release thecatch.

82. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder sepa rate from thecarrier, a catch pivotally mounted upon the carrier, there being aprojection on the said holder, said catch being provided with aprojection adapted to be engaged by the projection on the holder forrocking the catch to lock the holder to the carrier, a locking memberfor the catch, and means arranged within the path of movement of thelocking member for automatically tripping the same as the carrier moveson the track to release the said catch.

33. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder separate from thecarrier, a catch pivotally mounted upon the carrier, there being aprojection on the said holder, said catch being provided with aprojection adapted to be engaged by the projection on the holder forrocking the catch to lock the holder to the carrier, a guide fordirecting the projection on the holder into engagement wlth the catch, alocking member for the catch, and means arranged within the path ofmovement of the locking member for automatically tripping the same asthe carrier moves on the track to release the said catch.

rate from the carrier, a catch pivotally supported'by the carrier, saidcatch being provided with a projecting portion, said holder beingprovided with a projectio-nadapted to engage the projecting portion onthe catch to rock the catch to secure the holder to the carrier, alocking member for the catch, means for automatically shifting the saidmember to lock the catch, and means arranged within the path of movementof a portion of said member during its movement on the track or way toshift the member to release the catch.

a 35. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a trackor way, acarrler mounted to travel thereon, an article holder separate from thecarrier, a catch pivotally supported by the carrier, said catch beingprovided with a projecting portion, said holder being provided with aprojection adapted 'to engage the projecting portionon the catch to rockthe catch to secure the holder to the carrier, a locking member for thecatch, elastic means for automatically shifting the said member to lockthe holder to the carrier, and means operatively related to the track orway adapted to be engaged by the locking member as the carrier movesalong the track for automatically shifting the member to release thecatch to permit the holder to be disengaged from the carrier.

36. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder separate from thecarrier, a catch pivotally supported by the carrier, said catch beingprovided with a projectingportion, said holder being provided with aprojection adapted to engage the projecting portion on the catch to rockthe catch to secure the holder to the carrier, a locking member for thecatch, and elastic means for shifting said member to lock the holder tothe carrier, and said track or way being provided with a projectingportion arranged to be engaged by said member during the movement of themember thereon for rocking the member to release the catch to permit theholder to be detached from the carrier.

37. In a store service apparatus,the combination of a track or way, acarrlermount-v ed to'travel thereon, an article holder sepa- "rate fromthe carrier, a catchpivotally supported by the carrier, said catch beingprovided with a projecting portion, said holder being also provided witha projection adapted to engage the projectionon the'catch to rock thelatter to secure the holder to the carrier, a member for locking thecatch in each of 1ts positions, and means adapted to be engaged by aportion of said member during the movement of the member on the track orway for automatically adjusting the'same to release the catch todisconnect the holder from the carrier.

38. Ina store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder separate from thecarrler, locking means supported by the carrier for securing the holderthereto, and means arranged within the line of travel of the saidlocking means along the track adapted to be engaged by the locking meansfor automatically tripping the latter to release the said holder as thecarrier reaches the end of its travel on the track.

39. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder de-' tachablyconnected to the carrier, a hanger, a support mounted to travel upon thehanger and adapted to receive the said holder from the carrier, meansfor automatically releasing the holder and delivering the same to thesupport when the holder arrives at the support, means whereby the weightof the said holder will move the support away from the carrier, meansunder the control of the operator for moving the support toward thecarrier, and means for automatically limiting the last said movement ofthe support.

40. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mountedfto travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to the carrier, a support (I for receiving the holder from thecarrier, means for automatically releasing the holder from the carrierwhen the carrier arrives at the support, the weight of the said holderbeing adapted to move, the support away from the carrier, means underthe control of the operator for moving the support back to the carrier,and means operatively related to the support for limiting the last saidmovement thereof. 7

41. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mounted to travel thereon, an article holder detachablyconnected to the carrier, a support for receiving the holder from thecarrier, I

means for automatically releasing the holder from, the carrier when thecarrier arrives at the support, the weight of the said holder beingadapted to move the support away W from the carrier, a motor for movingthe support and holder toward the carrier, means underthe control of theoperatorfor starting the motor and means for automatically stopping themotor when the holder is in a proper position to be connected to thecarrier.

42. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track or way, acarrier mount- Ann the motor, and means arranged within the path ofmovement of the support for automatically moving the said member toshift the switch to stop the motor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 16th day of December A.D. 1908.

JOHN P. GATELY.

Witnesses:

J. H. J OOHUM, J r., M. W. CANTWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

